Parents and students attending this year\u2019s commencement at Georgetown University, a Catholic school, would surely expect to hear a commencement address that took Catholic teaching seriously. And that\u2019s what they got. But many in the crowd were offended, even outraged.<\/p>\n
The commencement speaker was Francis Cardinal Arinze, the head of the Vatican\u2019s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The dean who invited Arinze expected him to speak about the relationship between Christianity and Islam, especially in places like the Cardinal\u2019s native Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Instead, Cardinal Arinze told Georgetown\u2019s class of 2003 that \u201chappiness is found not in the pursuit of material wealth or pleasures of the flesh, but by fervently adhering to religious beliefs.\u201d Warming to his task, he then told graduates and guests about the importance of the family in Christian faith and life.<\/p>\n
He said that \u201cin many parts of the world, the family is under siege\u201d as a result of what he called \u201can anti-life mentality [that can be seen] in contraception, abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia.\u201d Instead of being honored, the family is \u201cscorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions, and cut in two by divorce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, that\u2019s a very Catholic message one might expect from a Catholic cardinal. But it proved too much for many in the audience. Teresa Sanders, a professor of THEOLOGY, left the stage DURING Arinze\u2019s remarks. Seventy other faculty members signed a letter to the dean protesting what one of them called Arinze\u2019s \u201cwildly inappropriate\u201d remarks. Really? As a result, the dean apologized for the Cardinal\u2019s remarks and the \u201churt\u201d they caused.<\/p>\n
This incident speaks volumes about the spiritual and moral condition of the West. As historian Philip Jenkins has written, the numerical and geographical heart of Christianity has shifted from the West to the developing world. One result of this shift is that, as was predicted, Christians from Africa are now evangelizing Europe and America, instead of the other way around.<\/p>\n
Thus, we see Anglican bishops from Africa standing against Western apostasy by ordaining American clergy who will uphold historic Christian teaching on faith and morals. And we see Cardinal Arinze pointing out the damage being wrought by the West\u2019s forsaking of these teachings.<\/p>\n
The response to the Cardinal shows just how phony all the rhetoric about \u201ctolerance\u201d really is. Tolerance originally meant allowing people whom you believed to be wrong to live according to their beliefs without fear of reprisal.<\/p>\n
It then mutated into the idea that all beliefs are equally valid. While this was mistaken, at least it allowed for the possibility that Christians might publicly express their beliefs. Now \u201ctolerance\u201d means that no one \u2014 other than Christians \u2014 should ever hear anything that contradicts what they think, or otherwise upsets them. This is especially true if the subject is human sexuality.<\/p>\n
This bogus definition of tolerance is why the dean felt the need to apologize for what the Cardinal said. Fortunately, our African brethren think otherwise. They take their faith seriously \u2014 seriously enough to tell the truth about the state of our souls, whether we like it or not.<\/p>\n
There is hope in Africa, if not in Georgetown.<\/p>\n
FOR FURTHER READING:<\/p>\n
Read the TEXT OF CARDINAL ARINZE\u2019S SPEECH (scroll down to \u201cFrancis Cardinal Arinze: Arise, Rejoice, God Is Calling You\u201d).<\/p>\n
Julia Duin, \u201cCRITICISM OF GAYS RILES GEORGETOWN,\u201d WASHINGTON TIMES, May 30, 2003.<\/p>\n
Al Dobras, \u201cWILL THE REAL BIGOTS PLEASE STAND UP?\u201c BREAKPOINT ONLINE, May 9, 2003.<\/p>\n
____________<\/p>\n
Copyright (c) 2003 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. “BreakPoint with Chuck Colson” is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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